J’can students at Howard University to receive JHUAN scholarship awards

WASHINGTON, DC:

Twenty-six Howard University students of Jamaican heritage will receive a boost to their academic pursuits, thanks to scholarship awards of more than $100,000 to be delivered by the Jamaican Howard University Affinity Network (JHUAN).

The scholarship winners will be recognised on Saturday, September 13 at HUes of Blue, JHUAN’s annual fundraiser. Now in its seventh year, HUes of Blue will also honour two distinguished Jamaicans with Impact Awards for professional achievements, exemplary leadership, and service to the community.

The $4,000 scholarships will be awarded to Jamaica-born students or those of Jamaican parentage with a 3.0 or higher grade-point average who are enrolled full-time at Howard University. The primary intent is to bolster the trajectory of Jamaican students at Howard, granting them broader access and opportunities.

The 2025 fundraiser is being hosted by Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, who will deliver the keynote address as well as present the scholarships.

“As an alumnus who has benefited greatly from Howard University, it is important that we look for ways to support our academic institutions and pay it forward,” said JHUAN President and Howard Board of Trustee member Don Christian. “JHUAN exists to inspire our students to dream more, learn more, and become more. That is what we hope to inculcate with the help of our partners, donors and academic institutions.”

Christian declared himself “honoured as a Howard alumnus to support our Jamaican students who have navigated significant challenges to be able to pursue their studies at Howard”.

Since its founding in 2018, JHUAN has awarded 115 scholarships, totalling $463,000, that have given many Howard-enrolledJamaican students a crucial financial lifeline. Scholarship applications increased by 75 per cent, while fundraising has grown at an average of 39 per cent annually, demonstrating the critical need for increased financial support.

The September 13, 2025 Impact Awards will go to Arlene Isaacs-Lowe, independent director for Compass Group PLC; and Christopher Williams, former CEO of NCB Capital Markets, will be recognised for transforming the Caribbean financial services sector.

JHUAN stemmed from the collaborative vision of Jamaica’s former Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks and Howard University’s 17th president, Dr Wayne A. I. Frederick. They had both sought to enhance support for Jamaican students, and appointed founding Chairman Don Christian to spearhead the Howard scholarship organisation.